Combination shrink wrap and gift wrap

ABSTRACT

A combined shrink wrap gift wrap in which decorative indicia is applied to a shrink wrap film and the film is shrink wrapped onto a package using conventional shrink wrapping machinery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to packaging, and more specifically to a packaging wrap which comprises a shrink wrap gift wrap.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Many companies ship merchandise directly to the consumer, and this method of merchandising is becoming more widespread with the growth of e-commerce, or internet sales. This merchandise is typically shipped in ordinary cardboard boxes or other suitable containers, and in many instances the merchandise is wrapped with shrink wrap.

[0005] However, it is sometimes desirable to wrap the merchandise in decorative wrapping, e.g., during Christmas time, or on other special occasions.

[0006] Conventional shrink wrap applied by shrink wrap machinery to wrap and contain merchandise is generally transparent, and in some instances opaque, but the shrink wrap normally is not decorative.

[0007] On the other hand, conventional decorative wrapping paper is normally a foil or paper product and is not capable of being applied using automated equipment, and especially automated shrink wrapping machinery.

[0008] Accordingly, for these special occasions, and especially at Christmas time when a large number of orders may be processed, if the direct mail or mail order company desires to use a decorative wrap, the company must obtain conventional gift wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, etc. and apply them to the packaging by hand before the merchandise is shipped. This labor intensive service usually requires the employment of extra personnel, with the concomitant expense.

[0009] Examples of prior art packaging in which a shrinkable decorative wrap is applied to merchandise are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,988 to DIXON, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,727 to ANDERSON, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,823 to DECICCO. All of these patents disclose a wrap which must be applied by hand.

[0010] In the DIXON patent, a roll of gift wrapping material is divided by lines of perforations into a plurality of bag-forming sections. The bags are placed by hand about a package, and if desired, hot air may be applied to shrink the bag about the package. There is no suggestion in this patent that the wrap can be applied by shrink wrapping machinery, nor does it appear that that would be possible.

[0011] The ANDERSON patent discloses a shrink wrap gift package in which the wrap is placed about a package by hand, with excess material gathered to form a caricature. Heat may be applied to tightly conform the wrap to the package. There is no suggestion of applying the wrap by using conventional shrink wrapping machinery, nor does it appear that that would be possible.

[0012] The DECICCO patent discloses a decorative packaging in which a shrinkable film is applied about an article, with light and/or sound emitting devices trapped between the wrap and the article, or between layers of the wrap. It does not appear that this decorative wrap could be applied with shrink wrapping machinery.

[0013] Thus, there is a need for a system for quickly, easily and inexpensively applying decorative wrapping to packages, and especially for combining a shrink wrap with a gift wrap so that the gift wrap can be applied using conventional shrink wrapping machinery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A system for quickly, easily and inexpensively applying decorative wrapping to packages is provided in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] More specifically, the present invention provides a method and system for applying decorative wrapping to packages utilizing existing conventional equipment that is normally used for applying shrink wrap to the packages.

[0016] In particular, the invention comprises a combination gift wrap and shrink wrap that can be applied using conventional machinery for applying conventional shrink wrap.

[0017] The decorative shrink wrap gift wrap of the invention may comprise any of several suitable materials or compositions of materials. For example, polyolefin and shrink polyethylene are suitable materials. A polyolefin wrap preferably has a thickness in the range of fifty gauge (one-half mil) to two hundred gauge (two mils), and a shrink polyethylene film preferably has a thickness ranging from one-half mil to twenty mils. A preferred material is polyvinylchloride (PC), and a preferred thickness is in the range of from about one-half mil to about three mils.

[0018] Decorative indicia may be applied to the film using flexographic printing techniques or other known suitable methods, and preferably employs water based inks.

[0019] The decorative shrink wrap gift wrap film is placed on a roll, or other suitable storage mechanism, for use in conventional shrink wrap machinery. When it is desired to apply the combination shrink wrap gift wrap to a package, the package is moved through the shrink wrapping machinery and the film is placed around the package and heat sealed just as in a conventional shrink wrapping process. The package may then be shipped to a customer. Generally, the shrink wrapped gift wrapped package is placed inside an ordinary cardboard box for shipment.

[0020] Use of the invention can increase production speed seven or eight fold, and presents an acceptable wrapped package. In addition to reduced labor costs, the invention saves a significant amount in material costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a package wrapped with the combination shrink wrap gift wrap of the invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a schematic top perspective view of one conventional shrink wrapping machine suitable for use with the shrink wrap gift wrap of the invention.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic, top perspective view showing the shrink wrap gift wrap of the invention being positioned for application to a package.

[0025]FIG. 4 is an exploded side view in elevation of a package wrapped with the shrink wrap gift wrap of the invention, about to be inserted into a shipping carton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Referring more specifically to the drawings, a package P wrapped with the combination shrink wrap gift wrap of the invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The shrink wrap gift wrap 11 is applied using conventional shrink wrap machinery, such as the machine 12 shown in FIG. 2. This machine is model number EM28TT made by Eastey Enterprises, Inc., of Rogers, Minn. It is to be understood, however, that other machines could be used, such as, for example, Shanklin models F1 and F5, made by Shanklin Corporation of Ayer, Mass., and Eastey models ET1610-36, ET2412, EP2028TK, EM1622T, EM1608, and the manual L-sealer with Reynold's DuoSeal® System heated seal bar.

[0027] The decorative shrink wrap gift wrap 11 of the invention may comprise any of several suitable materials or compositions of materials, including, but not limited to polyolefin and shrink polyethylene. A polyolefin film preferably has a thickness in the range of fifty gauge (one-half mil) to two hundred gauge (two mils), and a shrink polyethylene film preferably has a thickness ranging from one-half mil to twenty mils. A preferred material is polyvinylchloride (PCV), and a preferred thickness is in the range of from about one-half mil to about three mils.

[0028] Decorative indicia 15 may be applied to the film using flexographic printing techniques or other known suitable methods (not shown), and preferably employing water based inks.

[0029] The decorative shrink wrap gift wrap film 11 is placed on a roll 20, or other suitable storage mechanism, for use in conventional shrink wrap machinery. When it is desired to apply the combination shrink wrap gift wrap to a package, the package is moved through the shrink wrapping machinery and the film is placed around the package and heat sealed just as in a conventional shrink wrapping process. Typically, heat seals 25 and 26 are made in the film at opposite ends of the package, producing a look very much like that obtained with conventional gift wrap. The package may then be shipped to a customer.

[0030] Generally, the shrink wrapped gift wrapped package 10 is placed inside an ordinary cardboard box 30 for shipment, as represented in FIG. 4, but it is possible to ship the package in the shrink wrap gift wrap without using an additional outer box or carton for shipping.

[0031] While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A combined shrink wrap gift wrap, comprising: a film of heat sealable material having decorative indicia thereon forming a shrink wrap gift wrap capable of being shrink wrapped onto a package using conventional shrink wrap machinery.
 2. A shrink wrap gift wrap as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the shrink wrap gift wrap is a polyolefin film having a thickness in the range of from about 50 gauge up to about 200 gauge.
 3. A shrink wrap gift wrap as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the shrink wrap gift wrap is a shrink polyethylene film having a thickness in the range of from about one-half mil up to about twenty mils.
 4. A shrink wrap gift wrap as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the shrink wrap gift wrap is a polyvinylchloride film.
 5. A shrink wrap gift wrap as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the polyvinylchloride film has a thickness in the range of from about one-half up to about three mils.
 6. A process of shrink wrapping a gift wrap onto a package, comprising the steps of: forming a shrink wrap film of heat sealable and shrinkable material capable of being applied to and shrink wrapped onto a package using conventional shrink wrap machinery; applying decorative indicia to the film to form a shrink wrap gift wrap; and shrink wrapping the shrink wrap gift wrap to a package using conventional shrink wrap machinery, to form a decorative package having an appearance similar to that of a gift wrapped package that has been hand wrapped.
 7. A process as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the shrink wrap gift wrap is a polyolefin film having a thickness in the range of from about 50 gauge up to about 200 gauge.
 8. A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the shrink wrap gift wrap is a shrink polyethylene film having a thickness in the range of from about one-half mil up to about twenty mils.
 9. A process as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the shrink wrap gift wrap is a polyvinylchloride film.
 10. A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the polyvinylchloride film has a thickness in the range of from about one-half up to about three mils. 